Assam: NHM takes initiatives to improve maternal and child health

NHM Child Health

GUWAHATI: The National Health Mission, Assam has taken several initiatives to improve maternal and child health, including a state team visit to all 34 districts.

NHM Mission Director Dr MS Lakshmi Priya told a review meeting that the team stays in the district for three days to assess maternal and neonatal mortality and other health-related aspects.
These initiatives include conducting monthly counseling and review conclaves and special health camps in the districts.

NHM Child Health, The mission director of NHM said that the state has the potential to reduce maternal and infant mortality if a targeted approach is adopted.

In the April-September period of 2022-23, maternal deaths have come down to 289 as against 384 during the same period in 2021-22.
The number of child deaths has also come down from 3,842 in 2021-22 (April-September) to 3,523 in 2022-23.

He said that monthly advisory and review conclave, ‘Swasthya Manthan’ is being organized by NHM in all districts and three such programs have been organized so far.
All district health teams and development partners participate in the consultative conclave to review district-wise performance on key health indicators and refine future approaches.

Another program titled ‘Swasthya Sewa Abhiyan’ (SSA) or Special Health Campuses has been launched in identified blocks of all districts to facilitate comprehensive health services under one roof.

So far, two such health camps have been organized while the third one is currently being organized in the districts.
He said that 9,384 patients were examined in the first special health camp and 23,483 patients were examined in the second camp.

Another initiative, ‘Swasthya Charcha’, has been taken up by the NHM where a set of questionnaires is shared weekly by the state headquarters with all districts, and in turn distributed to health and welfare centres. Share it with the in-charges. (HWCs) and Primary Health Centers (PHCs).